like most of you, I’m a sucker for pretty packaging. I love the packaging for Belvoir Fruit Farms. that hand lettering is fantastic! not to mention, the flavors sound amazing.{from belvoir fruit farms, via design work life}

I was excited to hear your plans for Valentine’s day, and how you’d be spending it. I have to say, I’m a little envious of Jen’s plans to have sushi and gossip night with the girls. makes me think of my girls and our sushi nights with martinis and sake back in Florida. but tonight will be spent with my best friend and favorite person ever. we will continue a tradition started last year of cooking dinner together and spending the night at home, with no distractions. in honor of Valentine’s day I base our meal on aphrodisiacs to inspire all things associate with love.here’s my menu for this year, with the aphrodisiacs in red:honey soy glazed salmonfresh green salad with ginger dressingrosemary potatoeschocolate covered figsa fancy vanilla bean cheesecake with cranberry jewel topping – which I’m waiting to bake on Saturday when I have more time.with dinner we’ll be having Fantôme Saison and with dessert, Oud Beersel Framboise. if you haven’t had a real Framboise lambic, not the syrupy mass-produced kind, I highly suggest you try one. they are pink and fruity and mixed with lots of pucker goodness and pair well with chocolate and berries.

so! with love from us to you… I wish you a happy Valentine’s day!{a special happy congratulations to Marta and Dan, who are expecting a little bundle of joy in August!}{and thanks to Jess for the awesome Love Songs Compilation. I’m jammin’ to it at work!}

maybe I don’t mind hearts and pink all that much. especially when it comes in cookie form.so what will you be doing this Valentine’s day? I’m curious to know how you spend the hallmark holiday, whether attached or not. I’ll probably be at home, maybe drinking a pinkbeverage, maybe eating some yummytreats, maybe watching a lovely movie… with dlb and two furryrats.{from a & co}

last night dlb was craving a beer, so after he picked me up from work we decided to head over to Rogue for a beer and some dinner. while their food is not anything to rave about, Rogue has got it down to a science when it comes to their tasty microbrewed beers.it just so happened, that last night was the official release party of their Imperial Red Ale. it packs in a big punch at 9% abv, but the alcohol is hidden among it’s full fruity and caramel flavors. topped off with a pinch of sweet brown sugar, this American Strong Ale is a pretty good brew.Rogue Portland is hosting a Beer and Chocolate tasting this Valentines day. 10 craft beers, 10 artisan chocolates. drinking beer and tasting chocolate with your love? it sounds like fun. for more info, see the flyer here.{from rogue}

since we appreciate lots of styles of beer, dlb and I have been on the hunt for beer glasses. not just your typical pint glass with a brewery logo on it, but simple, clear glasses for each specific type of beer. depending on which sourceyoulook at, there are at least 10 or more different glasses that are used to drink different styles of beer. after doing my research, I think that there are really only five different ones that we would need to complete our glassware selections.a. flute – typically used as a champagne flute, this glass is used for lively, more carbonated beers. long and narrow bodies ensure that carbonation doesn’t dissipate too quickly. best for drinking American Wild Ales, Gueze, Fruit Lambic and Unblended Lambic.b. pint – your all around, standard glass. seen mostly at bars because of it’s easy to drink out of shape and because you can drink mostly anything from a pint glass. a British-style pint glass, like the one shown, is bulged near the rim and will serve better for pale ales, bitter, porters and stouts.c. weizen – these classy glasses, with their slightly bowed-out shape and narrower top will showcase the yeasty, fruity aroma, associated with most Weizenbier, or wheat beers. use this glass for American dark and pale wheat ales, Dunkleweizens, and tasty German Hefeweizens. and contrary to popular American traditions, forget the lemon garnish. the citric will kill the head.d. snifter – remember your first lessons in wine tasting where you learned to literally stick your nose into the glass after swirling the wine? that round, bubbled shape of the wine glass contributed to the range of aromas captured within. a snifter, commonly used for brandy or cognac, uses this same principal to capture and enhance the aromas of strong ales. use this glass for American Double IPA or Imperial Stout, Barleywine, Belgium Strong Ales, Quadrupels, and Triples.e. pilsner - tall with an inverted cone shape, this glass focuses the hop aroma of a beer. It allows for zesty carbonation and a robust head. perfect for American Lagers, German Bocks and Pilsners, Japanese Lagers, Witbier, and other low alcohol beers.

{I found all these at Crate and Barrel, but I’m sure there are lots more out there. so until we have a bigger house with a bar or more kitchen space, we’ll stick to our pint glasses and tulips. info via here and my brain.}